€1 million has already been spent on refurbishment and upgrading at the site and the City Council is currently trying to purchase houses and identify existing stock suitable for the needs of families who wish to move offsite.
The works began on foot of a scathing report by the Ombudsman for Children which found that the council had failed to consider the best interests of children living on the site by allowing them to live in filthy, overcrowded, rat-infested, and unsafe living conditions.
A Joint Committee meeting on issues affecting the Traveller Community today heard that progress has been made on developing a group housing scheme for the 66 families living at the site
Caroline Timmons from the Department of Housing told the Committee that contractors will be on site at the adjoining Ellis's Yard this month
"We have approved 12.6 8 million euro in funding for the redevelopment of Spring Lane in Cork. That will be for the redevelopment of the halting site with 12 three bedroom units in bays, and a new group housing scheme of 15 detached residential units in Ellis Yard so that's the adjoining lands. The contractors are due on the site to carry out site investigation works in September"
